| Abstract: | ESR and cyclic voltammetry investigations show that isomerization of the radical cation of cis-1,1′-azonorbornane (cis- 1 ) to the trans-radical ion proceeds too fast in solution for direct investigation of the cis-radical ion even at ?78°. The facile isomerization of the radical cation is in agreement with PM 3 calculations proposing an activation barrier of only 17 kJ/mol. As a consequence, quantitative cis → trans isomerization of 1,1′-azonorbornane can effectively be accomplished by addition of catalytic amounts of one-electron oxidants. This is the first evidence for a radical-cation-catalyzed cis → trans isomerization of azo compounds. |
